To say that we’re in the age of the traveler would be an understatement. It’s becoming more common than ever before for people to up sticks and venture around the world. The best thing of all is that this doesn’t just apply to young people fresh out of university, but people of all ages.
We’re also in an era where photography has become easier than ever before. A couple of decades ago, it was all about the disposable camera. Now, high-tech phones and swanky compact cameras have made life as the modern-day traveler all the more easier – and those memories are visually there to stay.
However, if you are serious about creating the very best photo books for your travels, you can’t just whip out your iPhone and hope for the best. Instead, there are various tips you can implement to make your photos that extra bit special, as we take a look at some of them here.
Buy into the rule of thirds
This is one of those suggestions which might appear complicated, but once it’s broken down it will quickly become apparent that this isn’t at all the case.
When we talk about the rule of thirds, it’s all about getting the appropriate elements of an image into each area of it. For example, the top third might be the sky, the middle third might be the main object, while the bottom third might be the ground. By doing this, the viewer’s eye will be drawn to the right areas of the image. In other words, the wrong parts won’t be drowned out.
The smart frame
This isn’t some sort of fancy Instagram technique, it’s something that has been around since the beginning of time and can make a monumental difference to the photos you are shooting.
In short, it’s about finding the object that you are looking to snap, and using this as the frame of the image. For example, in the case of a bridge, the upper part of the bridge can act as the top frame. By doing this, it means that the viewer’s eye will be drawn to the center and what lies under it. This is again an excellent way of drawing attention to the correct areas.
Of course, it’s also a technique which doesn’t work with every setting. Some objects just aren’t suitable for framing, but those that are include the likes of trees and doorways which can transform the average photo to something completely out of the ordinary.
Staying on the subject of focal…
A lot of this guide has been based on keeping focused. This next suggestion is one that’s been around for a long time, yet it’s also one that should never be neglected.
Particularly if you are trying to capture a person during your travels, you want them to be the main focus of it. The best way to do this is to blur out all of the other surroundings, so they stand out as the sharpest element. It’s something that’s used on all of the magazines and as such, you should immediately understand the reasoning.
